Remembering and Honoring Those Who Positively Influence Our Lives

Ch, Col Cherri Wheeler
There is nothing like a significant event in one's life to create an excuse to reflect on the journey taken. This has been the case for me as I prepare to pin-on Colonel in a few short weeks. It is hard to fathom that I have actually been commissioned for 25 years, active duty for over 20 years. It seems so short a time ago that I was a 2 Lt Chaplain Candidate.

As I started to reflect on my journey as a chaplain it caused me to remember the many "saints" who have influenced my life. I sat back on a slower weekend and began to reminisce on my military career assignment by assignment. It was amazing how long the list became of the many people who can take the credit and maybe the blame for my success. From the late Fr Heffernan at my first assignment at Lowery AFB as a Chaplain Candidate to MSgt (ret) Jacky King (Peterson) and SMSgt Michael Gardner (Pope) who taught me about generosity and professionalism. To Chs Paul Evans, Mickey Bell, Dave Bena, and Ron Kelling (Minot) who allowed me to mature as a preacher and chaplain in my first assignment; they gave me permission to be as energetic and creative as I desired. Then there were those who were peers and associates who were great for a sanity check, those include "The Cool Women in Charge" (Pope), Kathy Payne and Mary Ellen White (Peterson), Bobby Grigsby and Cliff Piercy (USAFA). Finally, there were the Commanders and Chiefs who mentored me directly and indirectly, to include Brig Gen Darren McDew, Col John Bonapart, Col Debra Gray, Chief Scott Turner, Chief Patty Gray, and Chief Herb Hanson to name but a few. This list is a rather small sampling but these men and women represent the best the Air Force has produced in the last 25 years.

In my reflections I began to see common threads weaving through my life tapestry. Of the saints who have influenced my life, they all made themselves available to me. In other words they showed me hospitality. Second, they gave me a job to do and trusted me to get it done. Third, these gracious people accepted me for who and what I was (warts, red-head and all.) Fourth, they were ready and willing to laugh and cry with me no matter what. Fifth, they told me what I needed to hear, not necessarily what I wanted to hear. Sixth, the influential ones practiced what they preached, that is, they modeled leadership and character principles that I wanted to emulate. Seventh, regardless of their religious persuasion, they respected my religious traditions. Eighth, they found the balance between getting the mission done on time and on target with having a fun time doing it. Ninth, when hard truths had to be communicated to the rank and file they found a way to "speak the truth in love." Finally, of these influential people, they loved what they do every day for God and country and this love was evident even on the hard days.

If I am to be a person who becomes influential in others lives I must remember the attributes listed above. But more than that, I must practice them. Dear Abby and other advice columnist have coined the phrase, "pay it forward." If I want to be a leader who finishes well, I must pay forward the great gifts I have received over the last 25 years. I must honor those wonderful mentors and friends by emulating them. I can only pay back by paying forward, by being a positive influence on those lives God puts in my path. My prayer is that I will take time to remember my mentors and honor them by practicing what they taught me.